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The Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners is holding an emergency meeting on Tuesday at 9 a.m. at the board chambers in Milton to discuss extending the COVID-19 emergency declaration and the hours that Navarre Beach is open.

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People social distance while fishing off the Navarre Beach Fishing Pier as the Santa Rosa County beaches reopen after the coronavirus shutdown in Navarre on Friday, May 1, 2020. Gregg Pachkowski/gregg@pnj.com

Kody Brown, right, and Richard Shearl fish off the Navarre Beach Fishing Pier as the Santa Rosa County beaches reopen after the coronavirus shutdown in Navarre on Friday, May 1, 2020. Gregg Pachkowski/gregg@pnj.com

Karen Shefler, left, and Harry Wilson watch as Kevin Sherhart sets up his umbrella at Navarre Beach as the Santa Rosa County beaches reopen after the coronavirus shutdown in Navarre on Friday, May 1, 2020. Gregg Pachkowski/gregg@pnj.com

Leila Flack talks about being among the first to arrive at Navarre Beach while her children Jack Ryan, 7, left, and Savannah Ryan, 11, play in the sand as the Santa Rosa County beaches reopen after the coronavirus shutdown in Navarre on Friday, May 1, 2020. Gregg Pachkowski/gregg@pnj.com

Jack Ryan, 7, left, and Savannah Ryan, 11, play in the sand at Navarre Beach as the Santa Rosa County beaches reopen after the coronavirus shutdown in Navarre on Friday, May 1, 2020. Gregg Pachkowski/gregg@pnj.com

Tracey Tekulve talks about being happy to be out in the sunshine at Navarre Beach as the Santa Rosa County beaches reopen after the coronavirus shutdown in Navarre on Friday, May 1, 2020. Gregg Pachkowski/gregg@pnj.com

The board will vote on whether to extend the existing emergency order for a seven-day period beginning May 5 and automatically renewing each seven days until the board declares the emergency has ended.

“We will talk about the governor’s phase one plan to reopen the economy, and what does that mean for Santa Rosa County,” said Board Chairman Don Salter. “Plus, we’ll be talking about the beaches as well.”

People enjoy the sun at Navarre Beach on Friday after the Santa Rosa County beach reopened after closing due to the coronavirus pandemic.(Photo: Gregg Pachkowski/gregg@pnj.com)

The declaration allows the county to waive the "procedures and formalities otherwise required of Santa Rosa County" that pertain to several matters of county business, including entering into contracts, spending public money, employing temporary workers and renting equipment.

Santa Rosa first declared a state of emergency March 19, which was 10 days after Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a statewide state of emergency.

But Salter said commissioners will also discuss extending the beach hours for more than five hours a day after neighboring Escambia County voted last week to open the beaches from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. Salter said he will support opening the beach all day.

The short-term rental ban is still in effect, although hotels are allowed to operate.

Citizens can watch Tuesday morning's meeting online and submit input to be considered by the commissioners via a public input form. Social distance monitoring will be observed at the meeting, which will begin at 9 a.m. at the board chambers in Milton.